Ozbow

Been playing around with the idea of really extending myself and see what I could come up with. Like the look of some 'hybrid' aka recurved long bow types and decided to have a go. After a couple weeks getting the new form just right [ and it was a job!] and crunching numbers the following shots should show the result. It probably took twice as long to do as a'normal' HH style straight laid bow, what with the multiple glue lines and veneers etc. I have only had couple shots with it as I don't have a string for it yet and had to improvise. Sorry no strung shots for that very reason.I know this is pure conjecture on my part but it is by far the fastest stick bow I have shot yet.I hoped for 55# @ 28'' but came in at 60# with the new design.

timber used was a piece of black wattle I found laying on ground at Caboolture shoot and offsets are hairy oak so its all aussie. It is 66''NTN. Once its had multiple coats finish and i get a new string i will post some more shots.

The timber has a real iridescent look about it which I haven't been able to get in the shots.

Bob,

You have certainly progressed with your bow making in the last six months or so. Very nice looking bow.

Daryl.

thanks you Daryl. I do appreciate your kind words. I guess for some one like myself who practically goes to bed with a bow and a bit of sandpaper i have to improve or go nuts!

I'm impressed how good is that!!

Awesome effort, your bows are really looking every part the professional!

Hazard

Looks Good, will we see it at Gympie. Cheers Roadie.

Wow Bob, you didn't hold back on that one. Congrats on designing your own bow profile. It would be good to here about that side of things if you don't mind sharing in the future. Looks great congrats. Steve

Thanks Graydon and Grant. It was a labour intensive bow but certainly an enjoyable time in the end. I have always been sceptical of the american styled risers but I have to say it is very comfortable and the heel section just keeps the wrist in the right position.looking forward to getting a string made and trying it out It will probably be at Gympie as I dont know if the guy I made it for will handle the extra weight.

Bob,
A Very Good Looker.
Regards

John

Thanks John and Steve.Thing is photos dont really show how good the timber really looks.Hoping my daughter will drop over on the weekend with her u-beaut camera and ability, and get some good shots.Steve- its not entirely my design as I had some help from a guy in US who supplies some bow stuff for me. But a point is to do layouts on scrap wood and use a flexible rule or strip and eyeball the curves, and then its a trial and error test. I was supplied some parameters which lessened the legwork on the layout but not on form building. It has to be spot on and the form curves were cut with a router.I am so pleased with the appearance of the Aussie timbers that I will be doing a lot more with them

No such thing as a hybrid bow Bob. It looks like you will end up with a nice looking semi-recurve. The colours of the wood go well together.

I noticed the arrowhead; is it carved from wood or deer antler? From what I can see of it it looks nice.

Jeff

Lot of people do refer to them as hybrid Jeff and I can see where they are coming from, but horses for courses etc. and the arrowhead is carved from antler, just thought i'd lair it up a bit.

bigbob wrote: Lot of people do refer to them as hybrid Jeff

I know but that doesn't make them right.

The arrowhead looks good. Have you got a better photo of it?

Jeff

I hope to get some good photos generally on the bow if said daughter comes over on the weekend. It [the bow]really looks much better than photos suggest. I'll get one of the arrowhead then. I carved a dowel at the back and drilled a mount hole in the back of the riser and glued it in after soaking the back of head with super glue to fill porous nature. The rest of the back is also glued as well so shouldnt come off/out.

Thanks. It will be good to see the updated photos of the bow and the arrowhead.

Jeff

Awesome Bob, as Daryl said you have come a long way in a short time. The only advice I could give is perhaps spending a bit of time on learning string making (unless you don't have a string because you haven't had time of course). I have found string making to be the perfect compliment to bow making and it's even therapeutic if you have the right frame of mind, a very relaxing craft if you don't see it as a chore.

Cheers mate..... Rod

good job there Bob i hope to see it out the club soon

Stickbow Hunter wrote:

bigbob wrote: Lot of people do refer to them as hybrid Jeff

I know but that doesn't make them right.

The arrowhead looks good. Have you got a better photo of it?

Jeff

Stick in the mud!!

hazard wrote:Stick in the mud!!

That's me.

Jeff

Hi Jeff, Bob.

Stickbow Hunter wrote:

bigbob wrote: Lot of people do refer to them as hybrid Jeff

I know but that doesn't make them right. Jeff

I concur with Jeff.

I am happy to be called anything but late for breakfast so I dont think the bow will mind either.Semi recurve might describe it ! Rod I really dont want to make strings, same as i gave up on making my own dowels for arrows. I'd rather be applying my time to making bows.

Just an update. Had to go to club today on working bee and took bow out to test it.Needed to take a little off belly side of window and a slight increase in radius on shelf ledge. How did it shoot? Firstly I was using a 'bodgy' string that I practically had to unwind to use and the brace height was about 1/2'' too much, but I am very impressed. first shot was at a tennis ball at 15m, nailed first time, second shot 2'' away third shot nailed again.Its very smooth to draw, quiet, and as I mentioned before fast. I will have some more pictures tomorrow, including braced and the shot of the arrowhead. Just for a dig Jeff[ ] as you mentioned its a 'semi recurve', which by definition means it also consists in part of another description, and as it fulfills an ABA requirement that the string not be in contact with the belly side of limb [ala recurve] than it follows that that other half of the semi equasion would be a long bow or semi long bow . any intermingling of two different 'species' can legitimately be called a 'hybrid'

Man that is just pretty... I'm all about the self bows, but jeez, when you sandwich a couple of stunning timbers together it's just a piece of art. Is it backed with fiberglass, or is that timber?

Correct terminology avoids confusion.

For those who may have missed it or forgotten about it Dennis [from memory] posted this photo some time ago.
Daryl.

Rook wrote:Man that is just pretty... I'm all about the self bows, but jeez, when you sandwich a couple of stunning timbers together it's just a piece of art. Is it backed with fiberglass, or is that timber?

Thanks Rook its backed with glass.Thanks also Daryl for the chart . still seems to me the deflex/reflex sits squarely in the middle, neither one nor the other.

bigbob wrote:Just for a dig Jeff[ ] as you mentioned its a 'semi recurve', which by definition means it also consists in part of another description, and as it fulfills an ABA requirement that the string not be in contact with the belly side of limb [ala recurve] than it follows that that other half of the semi equasion would be a long bow or semi long bow . any intermingling of two different 'species' can legitimately be called a 'hybrid'

Keep tryin' as ya ain't makin' any ground yet!

bigbob wrote:and as it fulfills an ABA requirement that the string not be in contact with the belly side of limb [ala recurve]

Does ABA put that silly requirement in their rules now? For a longbow that can never happen as the limbs always bend toward the archer when the bow is strung.

Jeff

There were a few replies while I was posting.

bigbob wrote:still seems to me the deflex/reflex sits squarely in the middle, neither one nor the other.

If the limbs of a bow recurve (reflex) to any degree when strung then the bow is a recurve. A bow is either a recurve or it isn't!

Jeff

Great workmanship Bob as usual.......bit chunky for my liking but still a beautiful bow mate

Thanks Rod that was exactly my thoughts before I actually tried it comfort wise.Chunky, but it is surprisingly very comfortable in the hand.And Jeff what is a semi recurve? I know i wont win this debate but I like stirring.